From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

This Christmas hymn which Martin Luther wrote was traditionally sung in two parts; the first verses sung by a man preferably dressed in an angel costume and going down a staircase, while the remaining few verses would be sung by the assembly at the bottom of the staircase.

Origin of From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

Translated from the German Christmas carol “Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her”, From Heaven Above to Earth I Come was a Christmas song composed by Martin Luther, a renowned German priest. He had written it during the 1530’s for his child so that they could sing it at his home on Christmas Eve. He even dressed up as an angel to sing the opening verses.

This was a tradition which he practiced a lot every Christmas, even including his students who couldn’t go home to spend Christmas. Four years later, Valentin Schumann added the music and the Christmas carol was published in the book, The Lutheran Hymnal. The song was marked as Hymn 85. The English translation can be attributed to Catherine Winkworth, who translated it in 1855.

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